News

2016-08-02 14:00:29.37

St. Joseph Firefighter Finds $10,000 Payday

A St. Joseph firefighter recently claimed a $10,000 Missouri Lottery prize. Russell Moore, 69, said his fire station is quite lucky. Two other firefighters in the district have won similar prizes in years past.

Moore won on a “$1,000 Frenzy” Scratchers ticket he purchased back in April. He said that he became excited while scratching the ticket in his truck in the parking lot of the store where he bought the ticket, Imperial Gas, 811 S. Sixth St., in St. Joseph.

“I remember a guy talking to me about how he always plays 26 (numbered ticket). Well, I always play 24 because I like it,” explained Moore. “So, I went back in and I bought 24, 25 and 26. On the 24th ticket, I scratched off 10 winners, and they were all for $5 apiece, which gave me all my money back. I thought, ‘Well, I’m glad for that, anyway.’

“The very next ticket, 25; and it also had 10 winners. The very first scratch was a $1,000 winner,” he continued. “I about fell out of my truck.”

Each additional scratch revealed another $1,000 prize, bringing the total win to $10,000.

The battalion chief said he dedicated the entire win to his daughter’s college fund.

“I got a coffee out of it,” joked Moore.

He followed the Scratchers win with back-to-back wins on Club Keno.

“I handed my tickets to the gal behind the counter, and I won $550,” he recalled.

“I thought, ‘Well, that’s a nice little morning lift.’ I decided to play my threes and sevens, and dang if I didn’t win another $550 in Keno,” he said. “And I thought, ‘Man, this must be my lucky day!’ Back-to-back wins in Keno.”

Moore is a dedicated player, and he said he’ll keep playing for another big prize. The St. Joseph firehouse might yield another big winner.